<<Back  

SPOTLIGHT ON FESTIVALS, INC.

Presents:

NEW YORK IN THE BIG EASY THEATER FESTIVAL

MAY 12, 2003 – MAY 25, 2003

** Note: Applicants need to reside in the vicinity of New Orleans or cast from the area.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our primary goal is to help talented, but under exposed, playwrights and directors find an audience to appreciate their talent. We also endeavor to bring back the fun to mounting a production.  The artists need not feel as if they are alone in the process.  Theater should be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved. When a cast and crew loves what they are doing and are having fun doing it then there is a tremendous trickle down effect from the talent to the audience itself. It is time that we put the "experience" back in Theater Experience!  We mainly produce new works but, on occasion, will accept seldom done or rare published works.

WHO WE ARE

Spotlight On Productions is a New York City based production company formed by Frank Calo in 1998 and is managed and produced by him.  This will be Spotlight’s 7th New York Festival under the Spotlight name.

Publicity is being handled by CalThor Productions. 

FRANK CALO: Producer/Artistic Director:

Before Spotlight On, Frank Calo was the Co-Producer of Sage Theatre Company, which produced 6 New York Festivals and had its own theater on 42nd St. from July 1998 through July 1999.  In 1998 Frank produced and directed the New York and Paris production of God’s Policemen.

Associate Producers:

KEN BACHTOLD: Graphics Department

STEVEN THORNBURG: Publicity/Promotions

ED TABBITAS: Business Management

Management:

Managing Producer: SUE MARTICEK

Promotions Manager/ Creative Consultant: RICARDO CORDERO

Business Manager/Accountant: BILL BURKE

Graphic Design: STEPHEN VOUTSAS

Web Design: JONATHAN CALINDAS

House Manager: ANDREA HOFFMAN

Building Design Manager: TOMMY BARZ

LOCATION

This festival will be located at Mama’s Blues Theater [616 North Rampart St., New Orleans].  A 60-100 seat venue that serves drinks and a bar menu.  Dinner can be served in the downstairs area has a full bar.   More locations may be added as the festival grows.

THE THEATER/CABARET

Mama’s Blues has professional lighting and sound. 

APPLICATION

Please fill out the application form completely.   Spotlight On requires a $20 application fee.  The application should be submitted no later than March 1, 2003.  A complete line-up will be decided no later than March 10^th.   In some instances, projects will be decided upon within one week of submission.  If your show is chosen then a package will be sent to you with an agreement letter.  The $20 application fee is (check or money order) non-refundable. 

FEES AND COMPENSATIONS

Spotlight On offers 3 Plans depending on your investment.

Plan 1)

Once your production is accepted there will be a $125 fee for admittance.  In return, after the first 20 tickets sold you will receive 1/3 the price of the ticket for every ticket sold as revenue back to you.  Ticket prices will be set at $10-$12 for most shows (there might be some instances where the price is higher or lower - tiered showcases, reading, etc.).  In other words, you will receive $4 (for $12 shows) for every ticket sold from the 21^st ticket on.  Most productions will receive at least 6 performances.  Most likely each production will sell at least 20 tickets on the first night and after that the production will start to earn revenue back to its producer. 

Plan 2)

A $75 admittance fee and the first 40 tickets sold go to Spotlight On Production with $2 a ticket going back to your production starting with the 41^st ticket sold.  Break even for Spotlight On is usually around 15-20 paying customers for each and every performance. 

Plan 3)

A $25 admittance fee and Spotlight On will receive the door. 

The Festival makes no requirement for participation in future royalties from any works performed under its auspices but it does require that you list Spotlight On Festival as the original producing company or if it has been performed before the Spotlight Festival as one of the previous producing companies.  Our website address should accompany this statement - www.spotlighton.org. 

I would like plan number ___________   _______________ (your initials)

Benefits

Receptions and parties will be held throughout the festival.  You will be e-mailed information when it becomes available.  There is a party planned for the festival opening that is open to all participants. 

We consider ourselves a family and we treat everyone with respect and we will consider you as part of our extended family and we ask you to do the same.  One of the Spotlight perks are our parties - we like to throw receptions and parties before, during and after each festival!  It is one of the ways we say “thank you” to each company.  We will update you with specifics.  We also allow plenty of “schmoozing” time in our reception room.  Our website is also a very good way keep your name and production "out there."

This festival is also a great opportunity to meet some of the New York theater and film professionals.

ACCEPTANCE

Final notifications (within one week of the submission) of acceptance to the festival will be mailed on or about March 10, 2003. At this time, if you are accepted to the festival, you will receive a participant's packet. The enclosed contract must be completed and returned to us by March 20, 2003, the signed contract must be accompanied by a check for $150 (for Plan 1), $75 (for Plan 2) or $25 (for Plan 3).  If for any reason you cannot perform 100% of this is refundable within the first week (March 27), 75% within 2 weeks (April 3), 50% within 3 weeks (April 10), 25% within 4 weeks (April 17) and none of it is refundable after 4 weeks. You may pay by certified check, cashier's check, personal check, or money order, in U.S. funds, collectible in a U.S. bank.  Be sure to write the name of your show on the memo line of your check or money order, and make it payable to Spotlight On. The participation fee will go towards initial festival promotion and ad costs. 

If your production/show is picked you will receive a packet that will include:

- Performance schedule information

- Tech schedule information

- Blocking rehearsal information

- Theater information

- Meeting dates and times

- A sample of our festival brochure

- Rental information from the venue (if you choose to rent rehearsal time from the venue(s))

Box Office and Ticketing

Spotlight On will handle all aspects of selling tickets. Tickets will be sold at the door and in advance through a recognized ticket agency (most likely theatermania.com).  Full ticket price is $12.00, there are exceptions to this rule and they will be outlined upon acceptance, some discount tickets and Festival passes will also be available, and critics and industry (this will be outlined in the acceptance form) will be comped.  One of our benefits is a liberal comp policy for all Spotlight On participants.  All those directly involved with any production can see any other show for free on an "as available" basis.  There will be no other comps.  A Spotlight On employee will be in charge of the box office for all shows.  You will provide an usher, who will be responsible for checking that everyone entering your show has a valid ticket stub (this will probably be his or her show program). 

All remuneration to participants will be made on or before June 15, 2003.

Technical/Production

No shows over 90 minutes (including intermission).  If you have a show over 90 minutes in length it is considered a “2 slot show.”  Shows exceeding 90 minutes will require special consideration.

You will need to keep the technical requirements of your show very simple.  The theatre is equipped with only basic lights and sound.  There is very little storage space. There is enough time for each company to have only one blocking/ cue-to-cue technical rehearsal in the venue.  Each company must assign an individual to run the lights and sound and an usher for each performance.  A Festival technical expert will be on hand in case of difficulties in the booth, but running lighting and sound cues is your responsibility. There will be an instrument check and sound check at the beginning of each day.

Publicity

Spotlight On will publicize the festival and coordinate all press relations, including interviews and critics' attendance. You will be asked to submit publicity photos and PR materials so we can send complete press packages to print and broadcast media. You must publicize your own show through mailers, handbills, or posters. The more you promote your show, the larger your potential audience.

WHAT SPOTLIGHT WILL PROVIDE

A Lighting Designer to design a general plot with a possibility of specials for each of the theatres.

A Technical Director/Managing Producer (either 1 or 2 people) to troubleshoot any technical and logistic problems that may occur.

A Box Office Manager for all shows.

A Press/Promotions Manager (either 1 or 2 people) to write press releases for the festival, set up promotionals and design and place ads.  Will also be available for questions.

A Festival Brochure will be sent out to our mailing list and given out as a festival program.  The brochure will also be sent to press.

A Festival Flyer and/or Postcard will be provided to every company and sent out to any additional mailing lists.

A disk with our logo and information that MUST go in every ad or on every flyer

6 hours Tech time (per production - this will be divided if you are part of an evening of separate pieces) in the space that you will perform in.

WHAT EACH GROUP MUST PROVIDE

A Lighting/sound technician

A Stage Manager

An Usher (could be your stage manager or director)  to sign box office sheets at the end of each performance

A Program for your production (it can be as simple as a sheet of paper with bios and show information.)

A Separate Flyer/Postcard for your production (must be okayed by Spotlight).  The flyer/postcard must have the line, “A Spotlight On Production” or “Spotlight On presents.”

A Representative to attend all scheduled meetings.

WHAT EACH GROUP CAN PROVIDE

An Advertisement in any publication (must be okayed by Spotlight).  The ad must mention Spotlight On.

“RECEPTION”

The bar area of Mama Rosa’s (downstairs from Mama’s Blues) will be used as a “reception area”.  This will serve many purposes.  The Reception Room will be a meet and greet area for cast, crew and audience.  Wine and refreshments will be offered and sold at discount prices (with snacks supplied).  All promotional materials will be displayed.  This will also be the room to have promotional parties, press functions.  These events might have to be carefully scheduled.  We urge you to just hang out and Schmooze.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Fill out the application/contract form.

Submit the following support materials with the application:

a. Cover letter.

b. Script or adaptation of proposed project.

c. Your best representative videotape (standard U.S. format) if you have one

d. Bios of all artists involved in your project

e. Audiotape of music (if applicable).

f. Any other support material you think relevant.

g. $20 application fee (check or money order)

Return application and support materials to

Spotlight On Productions

3040 75th St. #2

East Elmhurst, NY 11370

We are available to answer any questions via e-mail at spotlightonfest@aol.com

FILL OUT BELOW (print clearly or type) – fill out as much as is relevant. 

We want to make your theatre experience as pleasant as possible.  Spotlight On's number one rule is and has always been “No Attitudes!”  It is hard enough to put up a production without dealing with attitudes.  We’re all in this together - all we ask is that we help each other.  If you and your group are looking for a “festival family” than please submit! 

Thank you.

Frank Calo